In a first-person essay published by USA Today, a 25-year-old writer detailed a morning workout session with Arnold Schwarzenegger at Gold’s Gym in Venice, California. Schwarzenegger, 79, still visits the facility about six days a week as his busy schedule permits, despite having a home gym.
The author recounted arriving at the fitness center dubbed the “Mecca of Bodybuilding” on a sunny late October morning in 2026. The writer described feeling out of place as a scrawny 25-year-old among titans of all ages, noting a colleague saw a woman appearing to be in her 70s doing handstand push-ups. Schwarzenegger arrived at the gym on a bike and was surprised to learn he would be paired with someone who could pass as a first-timer, though he seemed thrilled.
Meeting Joseph Baena and Starting the Tricep Routine
Before the workout began, Schwarzenegger introduced the writer to his 29-year-old son, Joseph Baena, describing him as a carbon copy of his father at that age. Schwarzenegger called Baena “Mr. Natural” and noted he is training for a bodybuilding competition with “no steroids, no drugs, no enhancers” after winning gold at the NPC Natural Colorado State competition earlier this year.
Schwarzenegger and his partner started their exercises at the tricep extension machine. When the author asked about the perfect weekly workout split during a set of 20, Schwarzenegger ignored him. He later explained that he pictures himself as the muscle he is working during a set and that tuning out distractions is key. During the writer’s set, Schwarzenegger scolded him for failing to go “all the way” up and down with each motion.
That is important in your entire life. Whatever you do, you have to do full motion. Meaning don’t start something and not finish it
The Pec Deck and Mental Motivation Tactics
The session continued at a pec deck machine, where Schwarzenegger encouraged his partner to “get mad” to finish a set strong when things get tough. When the author noted he was in a great mood, Schwarzenegger explained his own mental tactics for finding motivation.
I always find something, I get mad about my past, my upbringing or my dad or some failure that I had or someone that was in my way. It could be someone who was cutting you off in traffic. You can just make it up.
The workout moved on to a lat pulldown machine and concluded with bicep curls, with the author noting Schwarzenegger praised his form during each set. Schwarzenegger explained that he continues to ride his bike to the Venice gym despite having a home facility because he needs contact with human beings and wants to have fun every day, stating that to him, life is about “work hard and play hard.”
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